How to Make Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee at Home

By Lawrence Adams

On a hot summer’s day, a tall glass of iced coffee can be a refreshing treat. While you can make this beverage by simply placing ice cubes in a cup of regular brewed coffee, some coffee enthusiasts prefer the taste of cold-brewed iced coffee. During the cold brew process, most of the flavor chemicals and caffeine remain in the coffee, while bitter oils are left behind. The result is flavorful coffee without the bitterness or acidity of a cup of hot-brewed coffee.

Things You'll Need

Whole bean coffee

Coffee grinder

Large glass jar

Tall spoon

Stainless steel mesh strainer

Large container

Coffee filter

Ice cubes

Drinking glass

Sugar (optional)

Cream (optional)

Process whole bean coffee in a coffee grinder to achieve a coarse grind. Make 5 or 6 tbsp. of coffee grounds.

Pour the coffee grounds into a large glass jar. Add 1-1/2 cups of room temperature water to the jar. Stir the contents of the jar with a large spoon until they are well mixed. Place a lid on the glass jar.

Let the coffee cold brew for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours. Keep the jar at room temperature for the duration of the cold-brewing process.

Pour the cold-brewed coffee through a stainless steel mesh strainer into a large container. Rinse the first glass jar and the mesh strainer to remove all coffee grounds.

Place the mesh strainer over the mouth of the glass jar. Put a coffee filter in the mesh strainer. Pour the cold-brewed coffee through the coffee filter to remove any remaining grounds or sediment. Refrigerate the cold-brewed coffee to keep it fresh.

Place five or six ice cubes in a drinking glass. Pour approximately 1/2 cup of cold-brewed coffee into the glass. Dilute the coffee with another 1/2 to 1 cup of cold water to taste. Add optional sugar or cream to the cold-brewed iced coffee just before drinking it.

Tips

Freeze the cold-brewed coffee in an ice cube tray to create cold-brewed coffee cubes. Place an equal number of coffee cubes and regular ice cubes in a glass. Let them melt to create a refreshing cold-brewed iced coffee beverage.